Strunk/Word Usage JRNL 1100

sewage

(Use this term, not sewerage, for both the waste matter and the drainage system)

Accused

(a person is accused of, not with, a crime) Example:To avoid any suggestion that an individual is being judged before a trial, do not use a phrase such as accused slayer John Jones, use John Jones, accused of the slaying.

gay

(acceptable as popular synonym for both male and female homosexuals (n. and adj.), although it is generally associated with males, while lesbian is the more common term for female homosexuals. Avoid references to gay, homosexual or alternative "lifestyle")

till

(acceptable for until. Do not use 'til or 'till)

agnostic, atheistic

(an agnostic is a person who believes it is impossible to know whether there is a God. An atheist is a person who believes there is no God)

assassin, killer, murderer

(an assassin is a politically motivated killer) A killer is anyone who kills with a motive of any kind. A murderer is one who is convicted of murder in a court of law.

bologna, baloney

(baloney is foolish or exaggerated talk. The sausage or luncheon meat is bologna)

biannual, biennial

(biannual means twice a year and is a synonym for the word semiannual. Biennial means every two years)

head up

(chair is not synonymous) People head committees; they don't head up committees. Don't use up as a verb. Wrong: They will up the price.

Reared

(children may be reared or raised; animals are raised, but never reared)

flack, flak

(flack is slang for press agent. Flak is a type of anti-aircraft fire, hence figuratively a barrage of criticism)

flair, flare

(flair is conspicuous talent). Flare is a verb meaning to blaze with a sudden, bright light or to burst out in anger. (It is also a noun meaning a flame)

grits

(ground hominy. The word normally takes plural verbs and pronouns: Grits are to country ham what Yorkshire pudding is to roast beef)

widow, widower

(in obituaries: A man is survived by his wife) A woman is survived by her husband.

dean''s list

(lowwer case in all uses) Example: He is on the dean's list. She is a dean's list students

nauseated, nauseous

(nauseous is an adjective meaning sickening or disgusting. If you're nauseated, you're sick; if you're nauseous, you make others sick.)

naval, navel

(naval pertains to a navy. A navel is a bellybutton. A navel orange is a seedless orange, so named because it has a small depression, like a navel)

balance

(not synonymous with remainder or rest of)

whose, who's

(possessive pronoun), who's (contraction of who is)

insinuate

(suggest, usually negative or unflattering)

Hispanic

(the preferred term for those whose ethnic origin is in a Spanish-speaking country) Latino is acceptable for Hispanics who prefer that term.

impeach

(to accuse or bring charges against; doesn't mean to try or convict)

arrest

(to avoid any suggestion that someone is being judged before a trial, do not use a phrase such as arrested for killing. Instead, use arrested on a charge of killing)

Refute

(to disprove. Not a synonym for denied or disputed)

decimate

(to reduce drastically especially in number; to destroy a small part of; not synonymous with widespread destruction)

alumnus, alumni, alumna, alumnae

(use alumnus -- alumni in the plural) -- when referring to a man who has attended a school. Use alumna -- alumnae in the plural -- for similar references to a woman. Use alumni when referring to a group of men and women.

room numbers

(use figures and capitalize room when used with a figure: Room 2, Room 211)

presently

(use it to mean in a little while or shortly, but not to mean now)

persons, people

(use person when speaking of an individual: One person waited for the bus). The word people is preferred to persons in all plural uses. For example: "thousands of people attended the fair. What will people say? There were 17 people in the room. Persons should be used only when it is in a direct quote or part of a title as in Bureau of Missing Persons. People also is a collective noun that takes a plural verb when used to refer to a single race or nation: The American people are united.

hangar, hanger

A hangar is a building. A hanger is used for clothes.

accept, except

Accept means to receive. Except means to exclude.

demolish, destroy

Both mean to do away with something completely. Ex:Totally destroyed and totally demolished are redundant phrases. Partially destroyed and partially demolished are incorrect. Use instead: damaged (or heavily damaged)

that, which

Do not use interchangeably. That is used to introduce a restrictive clause and is not preceded by a comma: Gwen liked the book that I gave her. which should be used to introduce a nonrestrictive clause (providing additional information about the subject that has already been identified) and is preceded by a comma: The book I gave Gwen, which she liked, was written by Mark Twain. In some cases, it is permissible to use which to introduce a restrictive clause to avoid repetition of the word that in the preceding phrase: I gave Gwen that book which I thought she would like.

she

Do not use this pronoun in references to ships or nations. Use it instead)

elicit, illicit

Elicit: seek Illicit: illegal

flier flyer

Flyer is the preferred term for a person flying in an aircraft, and for handbills: He used his frequent flyer miles; they put up flyers announcing the show. Use flier in the phrase take a flier, meaning to take a big risk.

Temperature

Gets higher or lower, but they don't get warmer or cooler. Temperature is not synonymous with fever

part- time, part time

Hyphenate when used as a compound modifier: She has a part-time job. But: She works part time.

drowned, was drowned

If it was an accident, the person drowned. If an assailant held the victim's head under water, he was drowned.

incidence, incidents

Incidence: range of rate of occurrence Incidents: events The incidence of rabies was greater in this year than last year. The two incidents led to his dismissal.

Islam, Quran

Islam (followers are called Muslims).Their holy book is the Quran, which according to Islamic belief was revealed by Allah (God) to the prophet Muhammad in the seventh century in Mecca and Medina. Their place of worship is a mosque. Their weekly holy day, equivalent of the Christian Sabbath, is Friday.

lose, loose

Lose is a verb meaning "to misplace." Loose is an adjective meaning "unrestrained" or "not tight."

Marshall, marshal

Marshall: person's name marshal: verb and titles

over, more than, under, less than

Over and under refer to spatial relationships and are not interchangeable with less than. However, it is now accepted to use over and more than interchangeably. The plane flew over the lake. The dog ran under the car. More than 100 people attended. Over 100 people attended. This country produced less than its share of scientists in the 1930s.

Muslim

Preferred term to describe adherents of Islam

adopt, approve, enact, pass

Resolutions are adopted. Amendments are passed or enacted. Bills are passed or approved. Laws are enacted, usually when a governor or president signs them. Rules are enacted, created or ordered. Enact can mean making a bill or amendment, or it can mean act out on stage.

flammable, inflammable

They mean combustible. Use inflammable

different from

Things and people are different from each other, not different than.

unique

This means one of a kind. If two or more exist, it can't be unique. Don't use almost unique, rather unique, somewhat unique. Use unique, unusual or rare.

each and every one

Use each one or every one

as to whether

Whether is enough

litany

a prayer or repetitive chant-- not a list

adverse, averse

adverse:unfavorable averse: opposed. Example:He predicted adverse weather. He received the adverse decision without comment. She is averse to change. She was averse to the plan.

advice, advise

advice: opinion, recommendation advise: to give advice

affect, effect

affect: verb: to influence. effect: verb: to cause, to bring about, effect: noun: result

aggravate, irritate

aggravate:(to add to, to increase), irritate:(to annoy)

Aid, Aide

aid (to help), aide (an assistant)

All right

all right (two words, never use alright). satisfactory, agreeable

Allude, elude, refer

allude to (speak of something without specifically mentioning it), elude (dodge, escape), refer to (to mention it directly)

allusion, illusion

allusion (an indirect reference), illusion (an unreal or false impression) Example:The allusion was to his opponent's war record. The scenic director created the illusion of choppy seas.

meaningful

almost never necessary

altar, alter

altar (in a church), alter (change)

altogether, all together

altogether (adv: wholly, entirely), all together (adj: in a group)

a lot

always two words

among, between

among: more than two, between: two

angel, angle

angel (has wings, financial backer), angle (mathematics, point of view)

anxious, eager

anxious (implies worry, concern), eager (in anticipation or desire)

about, approximately

around is not a substitute. about:on the subject of,used to express location. approximately:used to show that something is almost accurate or exact; roughly.

arrangement, arraignment

arrangement (settle, adjust, proper order), arraignment (answer an indictment)

as yet

as usually is unnecessary

assistance, assistants

assistance (to help), assistants (helpers)

afterward

at a later time. (not afterwards)

avocation, vocation

avocation (hobby, pleasure), vocation (business, profession, occupation)

finalize

avoid using the pretentious word. produce or agree on a finished and definitive version of

award, reward

award (honor), reward (payment)

a while, awhile

awhile (adverb) a while : he plans to stay awhile (adv.) Example: he plans to stay for a while

bare, bear

bare (to expose), bear (animal, or to carry the weight of something)

beside, besides

beside (by the side of, next to), besides (in addition to, other than)

bimonthly, semimonthly

bimonthly (means every other month. Semimonthly means twice a month)

biweekly, semiweekly

biweekly (means every other week. Semiweekly means twice a week)

bizarre, bazaar

bizarre (unusual) A fair or marketplace is a bazaar.

bloc, block

bloc (a coalition of people, a group with the same goal. Don't confuse with block)

Blond, blonde

blond (noun for males and as the adjective for all applications: he had blond hair.) blonde (noun for females)

bridal, bridle

bridal (with wedding), bridle (horse headgear, restrain, an expression of pride, scorn or pique)

bug, tap

bug, tap (a concealed listening device designed to pick up sounds in a room, an automobile, or such is a bug. A tap is a device attached to a telephone circuit to pick up conversations on the line)

byte

byte (a computer "word" made up of bits. The most common size byte contains eight bits, or binary digits)

can't hardly

can't hardly, a double negative is implied. Better is: can hardly.

canon, cannon

canon (law), cannon (gun) A cannon is a weapon. A canon is a law or rule, particularly of a church.

canvas, canvass

canvas (cloth), canvass (to solicit, seek out, sift)

capital, capitol

capital (city, money, major), Capitol (building in Washington, Montgomery, Atlanta, etc. Also Capitol Hill or Capitol Green or Capitol Concourse. Statehouse is one word.)

center on

center on (discussion centered on, not centered around or revolved around)

choose, chose

choose (present tense), chose (past tense)

cite, site, sight

cite (single out, bring forward), site (location), sight (see, view)

clause, claws

clause (part of a sentence), claws (animal toenails)

cleanup, clean up

cleanup (noun, adj.), clean up (verb)

coarse, course

coarse (texture, not refined), course (direction, study of)

collide

collide (to collide, both objects must be in motion. Frequently used incorrectly for struck)

compliment, complement

compliment (admire, praise), complement (full quantity, number)

conscience, conscious, conscientious

conscience (moral sense), conscious (awake, aware), conscientious (sincere, faithful)

contemptible, contemptuous

contemptible (worthy of contempt, despicable), contemptuous (expressing contempt or disdain). Example:It was a contemptible act. She was contemptuous of the chairman.

cop

cop (be careful in the use of this colloquial term for police officer) It may be used in lighter stories and in casual, informal descriptions, but often is a derogatory term out of place in serious police stories.

corps, corpse

corps (organized group of people), corpse (human or animal body)

council, councilor, counsel, counselor, consul

council (assembly or group), councilor (member of assembly), counsel (noun: advice, adviser), counsel (verb: advise, recommend), counselor (noun: adviser), consul (government representative with State Department)

cover up, cover-up

cover up (verb), cover-up (noun and adj.) Example:He tried to cover up the scandal. He was prosecuted for the cover-up.

crawfish

crawfish (not crayfish. An exception to Webster's New World based on the dominant spelling in Louisiana, where it is a popular delicacy)

crime, sin, vice

crime (violation of governmental law), sin (violation of religious law), vice (violation of moral law, also vice president, vice chairman)

damage, damages

damage, damages (damage is destruction: Authorities said damage from the storm would total more than $1 billion. Damages are awarded by a court as compensation for injury, loss, etc.: The woman received $25,000 in damages)

decent, descent, dissent, dissension

decent (competent, having good qualities), descent (ancestry, drop, fall), dissent (to disagree), dissension (discord, lack of harmony)

desert, desert, dessert

desert (noun: dry and sandy), desert (verb: to abandon), dessert (food)

in spite of

despite means the same thing and is shorter

disabled, handicapped, impaired

disabled: A general term used for a physical, mental, developmental or intellectual disability. Handicapped: disabilities. Impaired: having a disability of a specified kind.

prison, jail

do not use the two words interchangeably

dominant, dominate

dominant: adj dominate: verb

don't, doesn't

don't (contraction of do not), doesn't (contraction of does not)

toward

don't use towards

drunk, drunken

drunk, drunken (drunk is the spelling of the adjective used after a form of the verb to be. Drunken is the spelling of the adjective used before nouns) Example:He was drunk. A drunken driver, drunken driving

dual, duel

dual:two duel: a contest between two people

user friendly

easy to use

ecology, environment

ecology (the study of the relationship between organisms and their environment), environment (surroundings) Example: the scientist is studying the ecology of man and the desert

eminent, imminent

eminent (great, famous), imminent (to occur shortly)

entitiled

entitled (use it to mean a right to do or have something. Do not use it to mean titled) Right: She was entitled to the promotion. Right: The book was titled "Gone with the Wind."

Envelope, envelop

envelope (for letters), envelop (surround, enclose)

Faint, Feint

faint (pass out), feint (fake, pretend)

fair, fare

fair (weather, an event), fare (menu, cost)

farther, further

farther (physical distance), further (extension of time or degree)

faze, phase

faze means to embarrass or disturb: The snub did not faze her Phase: denotes an aspect or stage: They will phase in a new system

fewer, less

fewer (refers to individual items) less (refers to bulk or quantity)

final, finale

final (last), finale (concluding act, concluding number in a performance)

flout, flaunt

flout (mock, scoff, show disdain for), flaunt (display ostentatiously or conspicuously)

follow up, follow-up

follow up (verb) follow-up (noun or adj.)

foreword,forward

foreword (beginning of a book), forward (move ahead, don't use forwards)

formally, formerly

formally: formal manner formerly: previously

foul, fowl

foul - offensive, out of line fowl - bird

gorilla, guerrilla

gorilla:ape guerrilla:irregular warfare

he is a man who, she is a woman who

he usually is enough she usually is enough

hoping, hopping

hoping: wishing hopping:jumping

hurdle, hurtle

hurdle (barrier, to leap over), hurtle (to rush suddenly or with violence, throw violently, fling) He hurdled the fence. She hurtled the vase at him.

full-time, full time

hyphenate when used as a compound modifier) "She has a full-time job." But: "He works full time."

immigrate, emigrate

immigrate (come into), emigrate (leave from). Also immigrant, emigrant

infer, imply

infer (assume, draw from; the hearer infers), imply (suggest, signify; the speaker implies)

intern, internship

intern (noun; an advanced student gaining practical, supervised experience) internship (the period of time a person serves as an intern)

underway

is one word in all cases. started or began usually are better than underway

and/or

is poor construction and should not be used Wrong: The penalty is a $25 fine and/or 30 days in jail. Right: The penalty is a $25 fine or 30 days in jail or both

isle, aisle

isle: island aisle: walkway

hopefully

it means in a hopeful manner, do not use it to mean "it is hoped", "let us hope", or "we hope" Right: It is hoped that we graduate in June. Wrong: Hopefully, we will graduate in June.

either

it means one or the other, not both

its, it's

its (possessive pronoun), it's (contraction of it is or it has)

later/latter/ladder

later (succeeding at another time), latter (second of two), ladder (climb it)

lay, lie

lay, (means to place something down and takes an object, an intransitive verb); lie (means to recline or be situated and does not take an object, an intransitive verb). Lie down on the bed and lay your head on the pillow. Adding to the confusion is that the past tense of lie is lay, and the past tense of lay is laid: He lay down on the sofa after he laid the book on the table.

lead, lead, led

lead (metal), lead (leader), led (out in front, persuaded)

lectern, podium

lectern: stand behind podium: stand on

lesson, lessen

lesson: in learning lessen: decrease

libel, liable

libel: a false publication as in writing, print, signs or pictures that damages a person's reputation: "the newspaper was charged with *libel* by a political candidate" liable: likely, responsible for: if you dent the rental car, you are *liable* for damage incurred

loan, lend

loan (noun) lend (verb)

in the final (or last) analysis

lousy phrases

marital, martial

marital: marriage martial: military

media, medium

media: plural and takes plural verb medium (singular of media also average)

metal, medal

metal (steel, copper), medal (ornament worn or displayed)

might, mite

might (power, possibly), mite (a small amount, a tiny insect)

miner, minor

miner (digs for something), minor (not of legal age, not as important as major)

irregardless

not an accepted word; use regardless

cannot

one word

fundraising, fundraiser

one word in all cases

anyone, anybody, somebody, nobody, everyone, everybody

one word when used as an indefinite reference), any one, any body, some body, no body, every one, every body (two words when used to single out a specific element) Example: Anyone can do that. Any one of them could win first prize. Everybody loves a winner. Every body of water in the county contains alkali.

ordinance, ordnance

ordinance (regulation), ordnance (military supplies, weapons)

patience, patients

patience (self-control), patients (clients of a doctor)

pear, pare, pair

pear: fruit pare: peel or strip, reduce pair: two

peddle, pedal

peddle: selling pedal: bicycle

perspective, prospective

perspective: outlook, mental view prospective: potential

piece, peace

piece: a separate portion peace: not war

pore, pour, poured

pore (the verb pore means to gaze intently or steadily: She pored over her books), pour (the verb pour means to flow in a continuous stream: It poured rain. He poured the coffee)

praise, preys, prays

praise (compliment, flatter), preys (seizing upon, plundering), prays (religion)

precede, proceed

precede (before, in advance of), proceed (move ahead, amount taken in is proceeds)

premier, premiere

premier (first in rank), premiere (first public performance)

pretense, pretext

pretense (a false show, an overt act to conceal personal feelings), pretext (something put forward to conceal the truth, an excuse) Example:His profuse compliments were all pretense. He was fired for tardiness, but this was only a pretext for incompetence.

principal, principle

principal (chief, number one, school principal, banking), principle (basic doctrine, fundamental truth)

rain, reign, rein

rain (water), reign (govern, prevail), rein (instrument to guide, control)

raise, rays, raze

raise (salary, move upward), rays (sunshine), raze (tear down, lay level with the ground)

reluctant, reticent

reluctant (unwilling to act), reticent (unwilling to speak)

respectively, respectfully

respectively (each to each), respectfully (showing deference, with regard)

scent, sent, cent

scent: odor, smell sent: to a destination cent: penny

serial, cereal

serial: series, numbers cereal: breakfast

soar, sore

soar (fly, glide), sore (aching, angry)

stake, steak

stake (in the ground, in gambling), steak (food)

stationary, stationery

stationary (not moving), stationery (writing paper)

statue, stature, statue

statute (law, regulation), stature (quality of being impressive, exalted), statue (monument, sculpture)

taught, taunt, taut

taught: learned taunt: tempt, dare taut: tight

tear, tier

tear: in eye, rip tier: layers

there, there's, their, they're

there (in that place), there's (there is), their (possessive pronoun), they're (contraction of they are)

trustee, trusty

trustee: a person to whom another's property or the management of another's property is entrusted, a person who serves on a board of directors; do not capitalize if used before a name trusty: a prison inmate granted special privileges as a trustworthy person. do not capitalize if used before a name

no one

two words

due to, thanks to

use because of

Recur

use recur instead of reoccur

percent

use the % sign when paired with a numeral:15%

in advance of, prior to

used before

waive, wave

waive (to set aside), wave (on water, goodbye)

weather, whether

weather (like the rain), whether (if so)

your, you're

your (possessive pronoun), you're (contraction of you are)